Cameron pressed for early EU vote to deflect Ukip threat

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David Cameron: failure to take a stance on Europe could cost the party dear in 2015Getty Images

Sonia Elks

Last updated at 10:21AM, May 25 2014

David Cameron is being pressed to bring forward a promised in/out referendum
on Britain’s membership of the European Union as the Conservatives face a
battering at the polls at the hands of Ukip tonight.

The influential Tory MP David Davis led calls for the promised vote to be held
in 2016, a year earlier than currently planned, to prevent Tory voters
defecting to the right at the general election next year.

The pressure comes as anti-EU parties including Ukip were expected to make
significant gains in the European elections. Results are to be announced on
Sunday night.